Demographics of Nursing Home Patients

The demographics of nursing home residents can have a significant impact on their longterm care. Per the CDCs database 20.6 percent of nursing home residents age 65 or older are
married, 59.3 percent are widowed, 7.9 percent are divorced or separated, 10.8 percent are single
or never married, with a further 1.4 percent whose marital status is unknown. The marital status
of nursing home residents can impact their care in a variety of ways. Residents who are married
are more likely to have a larger income than their unmarried counterparts and are therefore more
likely to be able to afford the cost of long-term care. Marital status also affects the planning of
patient release, as those with spouses may be in a better position to be looked after at home. The
residents marital status also influences their mental and social wellbeing while residing in a
nursing home facility. Married patients may find the strain of being separated from their spouse
contributes to a depressed mental state, while those who are unmarried, or widowed may find
themselves increasingly lonely and isolated.
Where a patient resided before being admitted to their current nursing home can also
have an impact on their long-term care. 29.7 percent of residents age 65 or older lived in a
private or semi-private residence, 8.4 percent lived in an assisted living facility or a group home,
11.2 percent lived in a nursing home, 8.6 percent lived in a hospital-based skilled nursing facility,
36 percent resided in an acute care hospital, 3.1 percent lived in other institutions (psychiatric,
developmentally disabled, and rehabilitation facilities), while 3.3 percent had an unknown prior
residence. Those patients who previously resided in their own home may be better situated to
return home from long-term care, but depending on their marital status, they may not have the
support they need. In that case, plans for home health aides or continuing nursing home care may
need to be implemented. Also, those patients who were previously in a skilled nursing facility or

an acute care hospital may have more severe medical needs that need to be addressed in their
long-term care plan.
The previous living arrangements of nursing home residents is also another factor in
planning for their long-term care. The previous living arrangements of those residents age 65 or
older consists of 42.2 percent living alone, 48.1 percent living with family members, 1.8 percent
living with nonfamily members, and 7.9 percent in other or unknown arrangements. Residents
who previously lived alone are more prone to social isolation which can increase their risk for
some chronic illnesses (chronic lung disease, arthritis, impaired mobility, high blood pressure,
and depression) as well as put them at risk for a decrease in cognitive function and dementia.
Conversely, those residents who may have been socially isolated living alone may benefit from
increased social interaction in a nursing home facility. Also, as previously mentioned, those who
lived alone may not have a support system in place to return home to which would impact their
discharge planning. Residents who lived with either family or nonfamily members are more
likely to have a social support system which could benefit them emotionally as well as enable
them to return home if needed.
References
Hunt, B. (2015). The Emotional Impact on Elderly Spouses Who Placed Their Loved Ones in
Long-Term. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from
http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2443&context=dissertations
Stevenson, S. (2015). 20 Facts about Senior Isolation That Will Stun You. Retrieved October 30,
2016, from http://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/10-17-14-facts-about-senior-isolation/
Table 5. Percent distribution of nursing home residents by age, sex, race, and other selected
resident characteristics: United States, 2004. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2016, from

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nnhsd/Estimates/nnhs/Estimates_Demographics_Tables.pd
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Women & Long-Term Care - AARP. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2016, from
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/fs77r_ltc.pdf